Beverage container carton with punchout container handles



April 25, 1967 E. A. KALAJIAN BEVERAGE CONTAINER CARTON WITH PUNCH-OUT CONTAINER HANDLES Filed March 8, 1965 M MM United States Patent 3,315,803 BEVERAGE CONTAINER CARTON WITH PUNCH- DUT CONTAHNER HANDLES Edward A. Kalajian, 9016 W. Pico, Los Angeles, Calif. 90035 Filed Mar. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 437,725 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates generally, to improvements in cartons for beverage containers and has more particular reference to novel beverage cartons of this type, and to container packages embodying the cartons, which provide handles for the individual packaged containers.

Many beverages are sold in cans which are packaged for retail sales in cartons constructed of light-weight cardboard or like material. A typical container package of this kind includes six beverage cans and is commonly referred to as a six-pack.

Recently, the popularity of cans in preference to bottles for packaged beverages has increased owing to the development of so-called easy opening cans having aluminum tops which may be easily punctured with a canopener. The popularity of such cans has been further enhanced by the even more recent development of quick opening cans of the so called pop-top variety, which may be opened by hand without the aid of a can opener.

While most persons favor beverages which are sold in cans, they prefer to drink the beverages from glasses or mugs rather than directly from the cans. This preference is often based on sanitary, appearance, etiquette, or other similar considerations. Frequently, however, the prejudice against drinking directly from beverage cans is founded on less esoteric reasons. For example, many persons find chilled beverage cans difiicult or uncomfortable to hold because of the low temperature of the cans. In other cases, the preference of drinking from glasses or mugs stems from a persons dislike of having his hands Wetted by the moisture which generally condenses on the surfaces of chilled beverage cans. Quite often the prejudice against drinking from beverage cans stems merely from the absence of handles on the cans which may be conveniently gripped.

It is apparent at this point, that the prejudice of most persons against drinking from beverage cans may be eliminated by the provisions of handles for the cans. This, in turn, would greatly enhance the popularity of canned beverages in preference to bottled beverages, particularly if the handles were incorporated directly in the container packages.

Container packages incorporating such handles have been devised in the past, of course. These container packages, however, have not been widely accepted owing to their high cost impracticality, and other factors. Moreover, in all of the prior art container packages of this type which I am aware, the handles must be attached to the beverage cans by the individual purchasers after removal of the cans from their cartons. the existing container packages include only one or perhaps two handles which must be transferred from one beverage can to another as the beverage cans are emptied. There is, accordingly, a need for improved container pack- Also, many of ages of the kind under discussion which incorporate Another object of the invention is to provide improved container packages of the character described wherein each punch-out handle is attached directly to its respective beverage can, thereby eliminating the necessity of attachment of the handles to the cans by the purchaser.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved container packages of the character described which are uniquely constructed to facilitate punching out of the container handles and removal of containers, i.e. beverage cans, with their attached handles from the beverage cartons.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide improved container packages of the character described wherein each container handle may be angularly adjusted about its respective beverage can to properly locate the handle relative to the dispensing opening in the can as Well as to accommodate both right and left handed persons.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide improved container packages of the character described and cartons therefor, which are relatively economical to fabricate and assemble.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the invention whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container package according to the invention;

' FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a beverage can with its attached handle after removal from the package carton and folding of the handle to its completed condition; I

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged section illustrating the manner of attachment of the carton handles to the cans; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modified container package according to the invention showing the package partially opened.

In FIGURES 1-4 there is illustrated an improved container package 10 according to the invention including a carton 12 containing a number of beverage cans 14. As noted earlier, container packages of this general type customarily contain six beverage cans and are commonly referred to in the trade as six-packs". For this reason, the present container package 10 has been illustrated as containing six beverage cans 14. These cans are arranged in two row, 16, in the usual way. It will become readily apparent as the description proceeds, however, that the invention is not limited in application to container packages of this six-pack variety. Each beverage can is conventional and includes a cylindrical side Wall 18, circular end walls 20, and annular axially projecting rims or beads 22 surrounding the end walls 20.

Carton 12 may be constructed of any of the materials commonly used for this purpose, such as light weight cardboard or paperboard. As will appear from the ensuing description, the overall configuration of the carton is unimportant to the present invention. The improvements contributed by this invention, for example, may be incorporated in most, if not all of he existing beverage cartons or, if desired, in cartons Which are especially designed for the purpose. For convenience, the carton 12 has been illustrated as having a simple rectangular shape. Thus, the carton will be observed to comprise a bottom wall 24, side walls 26, end walls 28, and a top wall 30. The top wall of the carton is formed by two hinged flaps 32 which are folded to the position shown to close the top of the carton and are retained in these folded positions in any convenient way, as by adhesively bonding the flaps to one another. One of the can rows 16 parallels and is located adjacent one of the carton side walls 26. The other can row parallels and is located adjacent the opposite carton side wall.

According to the present invention, the carton side walls 26 are perforated, scored, or otherwise weakened to define handle-forming sections 34 which may be punched out from the side walls. For convenience these handle forming sections are hereinafter referred to simply as punch-out handles, or merely handles. Each handle 34 is located opposite one of the beverage cans 14 in the adjacent can row 16. As may be best observed in FIGURE 1, each handle is generally symetrical about a vertical center line 36 which is located approximately in a plane normal to the respective carton side wall containing the central axis of the adjacent beverage can 14. It will become apparent as the description proceeds, that the handles 34 may have various configurations.

For convenience, the lines along which the carton side walls 26 are weakened to define the handles 34 are hereinafter referred to as tear lines. In the particular carton illustrated in the drawings, the carton walls are weakened by perforating them along the tear lines. Each handle 34 is defined by a pair of outer tear lines 38 and a pair of inner tear lines 40. The outer tear lines 38 including intermediate vertical segments 42 and curved upper and lower extremities 44 which terminate at cutouts 46 in the adjacent upper and lower corner edges of the carton. These cut-outs are located in the handle center lines 36, as shown. The inner tear lines 40 are generally parallel to the outer tear lines 38. Thus, each inner tear line includes an intermediate vertical segment 48 and inwardly curved upper and lower extremities 50 which terminate in approximate vertical alignment with the ends of the outer tear lines. The adjacent ends of the inner and outer tear lines are joined by scored hinge lines 52 which generally parallel the vertical center line 36 of the handle.

The narrow portions 54 of each handle 34 between its adjacent inner and outer tear lines 38, 40 form the grip portions of the handle, as will appear presently, accordingly, these handle portions are hereinafter referred to as gri portions. The inner tear lines 40 of each handle enclose a portion 55 of the respective handle which joins or connects its grip portions 54 to form a unitary handle structure. For this reason, the portion 55 of each handle is hereinafter referred to as its connection portion.

As will be explained shortly, each handle 34 is adapted to be punched out from the respective carton side wall 26 and folded to serve as a handle for its adjacent beverage can 14. This, of course, requires attachment of each handle to its adjacent can. This attachment may be accomplished in various ways. For example, the central connecting portion 55 of each handle may be adhesively bonded, or otherwise secured to the cylindrical wall 18 of the adjacent beverage can. Also, the handle of the carton may be attached to the beverage cans at some state in the packaging operation, at some point between the packaging operation and the sale to the final purchaser himself.

According to the preferred practice of the invention, however, the upper and lower extremities of each handle 34 are attached to the adjacent can by clips 56 which are applied at the time of packaging. Each clip 56 is constructed of metal or other suitably rigid material and includes outer and inner legs 58 and 60 respectively. The outer leg 58 of each clip 56 is secured in some convenient way to the adjacent extremity of its respective handle 34 in the region between the score lines 54 of the handle. For example, the outer clip legs 58 may be adhesively bonded, riveted, or otherwise mechanically fastened to the inner or outer surfaces of the handles. Alternatively,

the carton side Walls may have multiple thickness, at least in the regions of the clips 56, and the outer clip legs may be secured between adjacent layers of the sidewalls. In the drawings, the outer clip legs 58 are assumed to be adhesively bonded to the outer surfaces of the handles. The inner legs 60 of the handle clips 56 extend through the cut-outs 46 and engage over the rims 22 of the respective adjacent beverage cans 14, thereby to secure the handles to the cans. It is apparent that the clips 56 may be tightly crimped over the can rims. Preferably, however, the cam rims are gripped somewhat loosely by the clips to permit the handles to be angularly adjusted about the respective cans for the reasons noted earlier and hereinafter discussed.

When removing a beverage can 14 from the carton 12, the handle 34 for the can is severed from the respective carton side wall 26 along the outer tear lines 38 of the handle and the outer handle grip portions 54 are severed from the central connecting portion 55 of the handle along the inner tear lines 40, the grip portions are then folded about the hinge lines 52 to their handle-forming positions of FIGURE 3. It is apparent that the actual removal of a beverage can 14 from the carton 12 with its handle attached may be accomplished in various ways. For example, the carton may be simply ripped apart, being careful not to damage the handles, after which the handles may be punched out as discussed above, to permit removal of the individual beverage cans. Alternatively, the carton flaps 32 may be first opened or torn off, after which the handle for the can to be removed may be pressed inwardly to sever the handle along its outer tear line 38. The can may then be withdrawn upwardly through the open top of the carton. In connection with this latter method of removing a beverage can, attention is directed to the fact that each can contacts the adjacent carton side wall 26 along the center line 36 of its respective handle 34. Accordingly, each beverage can supports the adjacent carton side wall, along the handle center line, against inward deflection when the handle is pressed inwardly to sever it from the carton. This, of course, facilitates severance of each handle. In addition, inward deflection of each handle, when being severed,-

is limited by contact with the cylindrical surface of the adjacent beverage can 14. The possibility of the handles incurring damage when being punched out from the carton side walls is thus reduced.

As noted earlier, the handle clips 54 are preferably loosely engaged with the rims 22 of the beverage cans 14 to permit eac-h handle to be angularly adjusted about its respective can. This permits the handle to be properly located relative to the dispensing opening in the can. Such adjustability of the handles is desirable whether the cans are opened by puncturing the can tops 20 or are of the quick opening pop-top variety. If the cans are opened by puncturing the can tops, of course, the can openings may be made wherever desired so that the handles, if desired, could be imm ovably secured to the cans. If the beverage cans are of the pop-top variety, however, the ability to adjust the handles about the cans is particularly desirable and important for two reasons. First, the necessity of properly angularly aligning the cans relative to their respective handles .at the time of joining the handles to the cans is eliminated. Secondly, each handle may be adjusted relative to its respective beverage can to accomodate either a right-handed or left-handed person.

It is apparent at this point that the carton 12 of the present container package 10 may be constructed to permit removal of the packaged cans and their handles in ways other than those described above. For example, the ends of the carton may be opened to permit withdrawal of the beverage cans 14 through these ends after the handles 34 of the cans are severed from the carton side walls 26 in the manner explained earlier. Alter natively, the handles 34 may be so dimensioned that the opening created when a handle is severed from its respective carton side wall is sufiiciently large to permit the beverage can to be withdrawn through the opening.

FIGURE 5 illustrates yet a further modified container package according to the invention. This container package is identical to that described above except that the side walls 26 and top wall 30" of the carton 1-2 in the container package 10 is scored, perforated, or otherwise weakened along tear lines 62' located in planes normal to the carton side walls 26" and passing between adjacent beverage cans 14 in the can rows 16. The upper ends of these tear lines terminate somewhat short of the longitudinal center line of the top wall 30" and are joined by additional tear lines 64'. Tear lines 62 and 64' define therebetween a number of tear panels 66. Each tear panel is located opposite one of the beverage cans '14 and contains the handle 34 for the respective beverage can. When a can is to be removed from the carton 12, its tear panel 66' may be first severed along the corresponding tear lines 62', 64, after which the panel with the can attached may be pulled out, as shown in FIGURE 5. The handle '34 of the can may then be severed from the panel to permit removal of the can. Alternatively, the handle may be severed from the carton first, in essentially the same manner as described earlier, after which the respective tear panel 66 may be pulled out to permit removal of the can from the carton. Other carton configurations are also possible, of course.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what is conceived to be its most practical and preferred form, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. In combination: a beverage catron including two generally parallel side walls, a number of beverage containers within said carton arranged in two rows extending parallel to and disposed adjacent said side walls, respectively, said side walls including means defining punchout handles equal in number to said containers, and each handle of each side wall being located opposite a container in the adjacent container row and being adapted for connection to its respective adjacent container.

2. The combination according to claim 1 including: means securing each handle to its adjacent container in such manner as to permit removal of each container and its respective handle as a unit from said carton.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein: each said handle includes a central portion for attachment to the adjacent container and grip portions joined to opposite sides of said central portion along hinge lines about which said grip portions are adapted to be folded to positions wherein said grip portions define a completed handle.

4. :In combination: a beverage car-ton including two generally parallel side walls, a number of beverage .containers within said carton arranged in two rows extending parallel to and disposed adjacent said side walls, respectively, said side walls including means defining punch out handles equal in number to said containers, each said handle being located opposite one'container in the adjacent container row and including a central portion and grip portions at opposite sides of said central portion,

means securing said central portion of each handle to its adjacent container to permit removal of each container and its respective handle as a unit from said carton, and said grip portions of each handle being adapted to be folded to handle forming positions after removal of the respective handle and its container from said carton.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein: said containers comprise cans having axially projecting annular rims at their ends, and clips straddling each handle and the rims of its respective can for securing its handle to its respective can.

6. The combination according to claim 4 wherein: said containers comprise cans having axially projecting annular rims at their ends and that said means securing each handle to its respective can comprise clips straddling said central portion of each handle and said rims of the respective can.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein: each said handle includes a central portion to be secured to the adjacent container, grip portions hinged at opposite ends to opposite sides of said central portion, and adapted to be folded toward one another to handle-forming positions, and each grip portion between said ends thereof being joined to said central portion along a curved tear line along which said handle is adapted to be severed, whereby said grip portions define an open handle when folded to said handle forming positions.

8. The combination according to claim 4 wherein: said grip portions are hinged at their ends to opposite sides of said central portion, and adapted to be folded toward one another to handle-forming positions, and each grip portion betweeen said ends thereof being joined to said central portion along a curved tear line along which said handle is adapted to be severed, whereby said grip portions define an open handle when folded to said handle forming positions.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein: said containers comprise cans having annular axially projecting rims at their ends, and said means securing said handles to said cans comprise clips straddling the ends of said central portion of each handle and said rims of the respective can.

10. For use in a container package of the character described: a carton comprising generally parallel side walls including weakened tear lines defining punch out container handles with vertical center lines and having openings on said center lines adjacent the upper and lower edges of the side walls, each said handle including outer curved tear lines located at opposite sides of the respective center line and terminating at their ends at the respective side wall openings and inner curved tear lines generally parallel to said outer tear lines, respectively, the adjacent ends of the respective inner and outer tear lines of each handle being joined by hinge lines parallel to the respective center line, each handle being removable from the carton and being adapted for connection to a container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1960 Munkaohy. 2/1964 Leonard. 

1. IN COMBINATION: A BEVERAGE CARTON INCLUDING TWO GENERALLY PARALLEL SIDE WALLS, A NUMBER OF BEVERAGE CONTAINERS WITHIN SAID CARTON ARRANGED IN TWO ROWS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO AND DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID SIDE WALLS, RESPECTIVELY, SAID SIDE WALLS INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING PUNCHOUT HANDLES EQUAL IN NUMBER TO SAID CONTAINERS, AND EACH 